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Wednesday, 22 October 1919

Mr TUDOR (Yarra) (3:33 AM) .- I understand that by the passing of this Bill we shall get a stage nearer to the termination of the War Precautions Act except in respect to those parts of it which the Parliament has deliberately decided to continue in operation.

Mr Groom - The War Precautions Act itself dennes the period of its operation. It is to cease to operate three months after the date of the exchange of ratifications of the Peace Treaties.

Mr TUDOR - The War Precautions Act has undoubtedly caused much annoyance to the community, and has been used in a way that was never contemplated by Parliament. The present Minister for the Navy (Sir Joseph Cook) was Leader of the Opposition at the time of its introduction, and received from the then Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) an assurance as to the way in which the extensive powers for which it provided would be exercised. By means of the Commercial Activities Bill, this Parliament has extended certain regulations made under the Act with regard to the wheat, wool, flax, sugar and dairy produce pools. We have during the present sitting, by means of the Legal Proceedings Control Bill, extended for all time certain War Precautions regulations dealing with causes of action arising - during the war, and we have yet to deal with another measure to continue in operation certain War Precautions regulations. Are we to understand that, subject to those three exceptions, the War Precautions Act will cease to operate three months after the date of the exchange of ratifications of the Peace Treaty.

Mr Groom - Yes; all the War Precautions Act regulations will cease to operate unless they are specially incorporated in another Act of Parliament.

Mr TUDOR - And a Bill incorporating them would have to come before the Parliament.

Mr Groom - That is correct!

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